Nut-lock.



W. B. & Gr. 0. MAXWELL.

NUT LOCK.

nrucumn 11mm B12026, 1912.

1 75,925 Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

' INVENTORS Grover QMaxvvzH, William B.Mc1 wl|,

- ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT orrion WILLIAM B. MAXVELL AND GROVER C. MAXWELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS 7 OF ONE-THIRD TO JOHN SILVESTRO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AND SAID.GROVER C. MAXWELL ASSIGNOB- OF ONE-THIRD OF THE WHOLE RIGHT TO JOSEPH KLEIN, JR.,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

NUT-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

Application filed December 26, 1912. Serial No. 738,602.

of the city of New York, Astoria, borough.

of Queens, in the county ofyQueens and State of New York, and of the'city of New York, Winfield, borough of Queens,,in the county of Queens and State of New York, 10

have invented a new and Lmproved Nut- IJOCk- 7 This invention relates to that type of nut locks in which there is employed a ring 'slidable upon the bolt and held from relative rotation thereon by means of a tongue connection.

Among the objects of the' invention is to improve this type of nut locks in such a manner as to facilitate the application of the nut with the least amount of trouble, and to provide for its ready removal'when' desired, the construction, however, being 1 such that the nut is positively locked preventing accidental or unintentional loosenin thereof.

further object of the invention is to simplify this class of devices whereby they are more cheaply constructed and more reliable in operation than many forms of nut locks heretofore proposed.

A still further object is to provide a looking device for a nut which is neat in appearance or which may be practically invisible when in use.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the drawings forming a part of this specification in which like characters of reference indicate corres onding parts in all the views, and in w ich- Figure 1 is a face view of a standard type of clamping bolt having one form of the in: vention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the bolt on the line 2-2- of Fig. 1 and showing the nut and locking ring in plan; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the same nut showing'particularly the form of the ratchet teeth on its inner face; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the locking ring; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of nut.

Referring more particularly to the features of the invention illustrated, we show at 10 a standard type of bolt adapted for clamping any desired machine parts together and having a nut 12 threaded upon the outer end of the bolt in the usual manner for clamping purposes. I

The bolt is shown provided with a longitudinal groove 13 extending from the outer end of the bolt inwardly toward the head to any desired distance. The locking ring 14 is preferably of the type illustrated in Figs. 2and l particularly, the same being substantially circular and split on one side so as to form one ormore pawls 15. The ring 14 is preferably made of tempered steel or some other suitable strong but flexible material. The character of the ring, as to its material, is preferably such that except for the elasticity thereof it is of a substantially rigid and permanent form. The major portion of the ring 14: is substantially flat and is adapted therefore to be clamped directly against the outer face of the member 11 ad acent the nut 12. The effective free end or pawl 15, however, is formed in such a manner as to project outwardly from said member 11 toward the nut, or, in other word'sjiin a direction tending to cross the adjacentthread of the bolt. At any suitable place the ring is formed with a tongue 16 adapted to project radially of the ring into the aforesaid groove 13 when the ring is slipped over the threaded end of the bolt into proximity with the aforesaid member 11. This tongue is shown as being formed on the interior of the ring substantially opposite the split side of the ring or opposlte said pawls 15. The tongue, therefore, cooperating with the grooved portion of the bolt, positively prevents rotation of the ring relatively to the bolt.

After the' bolt has been put in place and the ring applied as just stated, the nut 12 will be screwed upon the bolt in the usual manner bearing directly upon the mug 14 and thereby clamping the parts 11 together with any desired degree of tightness. The nut is provided on its inner face wlth a plurality of ratchet teeth 17 which successively ride over the effective pawl 15 during the clamping operation. Said effective pawl 15, by virtue of its form and elastic nature, will snap behind said teeth in succession-while the nut is being turned,

as shown in Fig. 1. The opposite or ineffective pawl, however, will be substantially flat against the part 11 by contact with the nut on its outer face. It is to be understood, however, that the ring may be formed so that only one of its free ends will serve as an effective pawl, the other end being flat.

We prefer, however, to form both of the free ends so that either of them may constitute an effective pawl so that there can be no blunder made on the part of a careless operator in assembling the device. Since the locking ring, in order to be reliable, should be made of tempered steel or some other description that all that isnecessary to lock the nut with this device is simply to apply the ring to the bolt, slipping it along the groove 13 before putting the nut on. The simple act of tightening the nut with the force usually employed for such purposes is all that is necessary to effect the locking thereof. The locking device, furthermore, is not conspicuous for the reason that the ring is preferably made of such dimensions as to lie closely to the bolt and preferably within the outlines of the nut. The ring, therefore, will not interfere in any way with the application of'a wrench to the nut either for applying the nut or removing it.

While the ring as herein set forth constltutes a positive and effective lock, preventing unintentional loosening thereof, we provide particular means whereby the nut may be removed with facility when desired. This means comp ises the formation of a notch 18 on the inner edge of the ring between the tongue 16 and the effective pawl 15, the notch being preferably located as close to the tongue as practical. When the wrench is applied to the nut to remove it from the bolt in the usual way, the force applied thereto will cause breakage of the ring at the notched or weakened point. It will, of course, be borne in mind that the locking ring for reasons already specified may be made of hard tempered metal and as such without the scoring or weakening would be diflicult to rupture. It is to be noted, however, that the breakage of the ring for the purpose of removal of the nut is'ordinarily not objectionable because the practice in all of the better classes of machine shops demands that such rings be never reused. The location of the notch 18 remote from the effective pawl provides, in the first place, that a large portion ofthe ring between such pawl and the notch, even though the notched part of the ring be very weak, will insure a substantial base for the pawl in its cooperation with the nut, such portion of the ring being clamped, of course, between the nut and the work 11, the ring as a whole, however, being clamped like-. wise will insure sufficient strength for the tongue in performing its proper function. Notwithstanding the foregoing facts, the second reason for our providing the notch 18 substantially close to the tongue is to make the breakage of the ring easier because of the increased leverage due to the length of the are between the effective pawl and the notch 18. The notches are prefere ably duplicated when the ring is formed with two pawls 15 so that there will always be one notch pertinent to the pawl which is effective irrespective of the side of the ring which may I be applied against the work. I

The form of nut 19 shown in Fig. 5 is substantially' the same as that of Fig. 3 in so far as the principle of the invention is concerned. The "teeth 17*, however, are shown in this form as being formed wholly within the effective inner surface of the nut. These teethyhowever, as in the other form, are

provided with the same fiat surface 17. This nut 19 is also shown provided with an inwardly projecting flange 19 which is adapted to surround the ring 14. The de th of the fiange'l9 is preferably slightly ess than the thickness of the ring but will nevertheless substantially inclose the ring, making it substantially invisible or at least inconspicuous. 1 The ring 14 which .we use in connection with this form of nut is substantially the same as already described both as-to construction and function, and in order to provide ample room for the breakage of the ring in order to remove the nut, the space within the flange 19 should be sufiiciently larger than the outer diameter of the ring as to provide a certain amount of clearance between the outer circumference of the ring and the inner edge'of the flange when the parts are in normal position.

Having thus described our invention, We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination of a bolt having a V in Letters Patent No. 1,075,925

stituting a spring pawl deflected normally out of the plane of the ring into position to snap into the space in the rear of. each of said teeth in succession to prevent unintentional reverse rotation of the nut, said ring being provided with a weakened portionl between its tongue and said spring aw p The hereindescribed locking ring for nut locks, the same being substantially fiat and having a tongue projecting radially toward its center, a spring pawl projecting outwardly from the plane of the ring being provided remote from said tongue, and a portion of the ring between said pawl and. said tongue being notched on its inner edge, substantially as set forth.

3. The herein described locking ring for nut locks, the same comprising a substan- .N.. Y., for an improvement in the entire interest in said invention,

cmpomtz'on of New Jersey,

the records of assignments in case in the Patent Oflice., r Signed and sealedthis 13th day of [se an] January, A. D. 1914 tially-flat member split on one side, the free ends of the ring being deflected oppositely from the plane of the ring and each constituting a spring pawl, said .ring also having a groove-engaging tongue extending inwardly radially from the sideopposite said pawls, and the ring being notched on its inner edge close to each side of said tongue between the same and the respective pawls, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 1

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM B. MAXWELL. GROVER C. MAXWELL. Witnesses:

EDWARD RUTH, Jr., JosEPH ZURLUK, Jr.

it is hereby certified that Letters Patent No. 1,075,925, granted; October 14, .1913, upon the application of William B. Maxwell and Grover C. Maxwell, of New York,

Maxwell, Grover C. Maxwell, John Silvestro, and Joseph- Klein, jr., as owners of whereas said Letters Patent'should have been read with this correction thereinthat the same .may conform to the record of the J. 1'1. NEWTON,

'Acttng Commissioner-of Patents.

Nut-Locks was erroneously issued to William B.

issued to Maxwell Nut- Jock llama/featuring. Company, Inc, of New York, M Y, a I

as assignee by direct and meme assignments, as shown by V this ofiice and that the said Letters Patent should be in Letters Patent No. 1,075,925

stituting a spring pawl deflected normally out of the plane of the ring into position to snap into the space in the rear of. each of said teeth in succession to prevent unintentional reverse rotation of the nut, said ring being provided with a weakened portionl between its tongue and said spring aw p The hereindescribed locking ring for nut locks, the same being substantially fiat and having a tongue projecting radially toward its center, a spring pawl projecting outwardly from the plane of the ring being provided remote from said tongue, and a portion of the ring between said pawl and. said tongue being notched on its inner edge, substantially as set forth.

3. The herein described locking ring for nut locks, the same comprising a substan- .N.. Y., for an improvement in the entire interest in said invention,

cmpomtz'on of New Jersey,

the records of assignments in case in the Patent Oflice., r Signed and sealedthis 13th day of [se an] January, A. D. 1914 tially-flat member split on one side, the free ends of the ring being deflected oppositely from the plane of the ring and each constituting a spring pawl, said .ring also having a groove-engaging tongue extending inwardly radially from the sideopposite said pawls, and the ring being notched on its inner edge close to each side of said tongue between the same and the respective pawls, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 1

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM B. MAXWELL. GROVER C. MAXWELL. Witnesses:

EDWARD RUTH, Jr., JosEPH ZURLUK, Jr.

it is hereby certified that Letters Patent No. 1,075,925, granted; October 14, .1913, upon the application of William B. Maxwell and Grover C. Maxwell, of New York,

Maxwell, Grover C. Maxwell, John Silvestro, and Joseph- Klein, jr., as owners of whereas said Letters Patent'should have been read with this correction thereinthat the same .may conform to the record of the J. 1'1. NEWTON,

'Acttng Commissioner-of Patents.

Nut-Locks was erroneously issued to William B.

issued to Maxwell Nut- Jock llama/featuring. Company, Inc, of New York, M Y, a I

as assignee by direct and meme assignments, as shown by V this ofiice and that the said Letters Patent should be 

